3 killed as apartment building collapses in Russia

This photo provided by Alexander Cherezov shows as a section of a nine-story apartment building has collapsed in city of Izhevsk, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. At least two people have been pulled out of the rubble, according to Russian news reports. (Alexander Cherezov via AP)

November 09, 2017 - 8:29 AM

MOSCOW - A nine-story apartment building partially collapsed Thursday in western Russian, killing at least three people and injuring another three, officials said.

Officials in Izhevsk believe a natural gas explosion is the most likely cause. Such blasts are common in Russia, where bottled gas is often used for cooking at home.

Pyotr Fomin, head of the local branch of the Emergencies Ministry, said in televised remarks that search teams have rescued three people, who were hospitalized with injuries, and pulled out three bodies from beneath the rubble.

Officials said more people are believed to remain under the debris.

Izhevsk, a city of about 625,000 people is about 1,200 kilometres (some 745 miles) east of Moscow, is home to many industrial plants, including a factory that makes Kalashnikov assault rifles and other weapons.

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